December 22–Let’s Count Down…and Calm Down…and Consider JESUS!

Yep, today is December 22nd. How is your heart? How is your pace? How is your perspective?

I know mine have been tested mightily recently. And I have to keep asking myself: Does Jesus really make a difference?

And if my answer is “Yes!”—then, I have to keep asking myself: How is that difference seen in me? How do I allow Jesus to make a difference in me inthe way I deal with the daily pushes and pulls of life? How do I allow Jesus to make a difference in me in the midst of disappointments? In the midst of shocks to my soul and my life? (I’ve had three big ones recently.) How do I allow Jesus to make a difference in me during this season which is meant to honor and celebrate His birth?

Jesus makes a difference in me…in each of us…whenwe allow Him to truly rule our hearts…set our pace…and give us His eternal perspective! He is, after all, our Wonderful Counselor, our Mighty God, Our Prince of Peace, our Everlasting Father!—Isaiah 9:6—and that should make every difference in us and through us!

Our Wonderful Counselor should make a difference in us as we grow in the knowledge of our God and His teachings and in His holy fruit within us:

“The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said.”

John: 14:26

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Galatians 5:1

Our Mighty God should make a difference in us as we trust that:

All things are possible with God!

Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27

Nothing is impossible with God!

Luke 1:37

Our Prince of Peace should make a difference in us as we let Him rule our hearts…and guard our hearts and minds:

Let the the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:15

AND

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Philippians 4:7

Our Everlasting Father should make a difference in us as we let His unfailing, incomparable LOVE hold us, fill us and lead us in every area of our life:

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not know love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1 John:4:7-10

Ahhhhhhhhhhh….when I think about who my God is—who Jesus is as my Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Everlasting Father—and allow Him to rule over my heart…my pace…and my perspective, then Jesus really does make all the difference in the world to me…and through me.

So, let’s all Count Down…and Calm Down…and Consider Jesus…in this season and in every season of our lives!